Hair Follicle Drug Testing - Dawson, NE

What it is, How it works

Hair testing is recognized as an effective means for identifying substance and alcohol use. Hair offers a prolonged history of drug and alcohol use by capturing biomarkers within the strands of hair as it grows. When collected near the scalp, hair can reveal a detection period of up to about three months for alcohol and other drugs. Collection is straightforward, adulteration is challenging, and the samples are easily shipped.

A 1.5-inch sample containing roughly 200 hair strands (approximately the width of a #2 pencil) taken nearest to the scalp will provide 100mg of hair, which is considered the optimal sample for testing and verification. For EtG, additional tests, and those exceeding 10 panels, 150mg of the sample is advised. We suggest using a jeweler’s scale for weighing the specimen. If scalp hair is unavailable, an equivalent amount of body hair can be used. When we mention head hair, we mean scalp hair specifically. Body hair includes other hair types (facial, axillary, etc.).

Process Overview

The main phases in the lab processing of a drug test result include Accessioning, Screening, Extraction, and Confirmation.

Accessioning consists of the initial integration of a sample into the lab's system. It involves confirming that the sample was properly sealed and shipped, assigning it a unique LAN (Laboratory Accessioning Number), and completing any additional data entry not captured by an electronic chain of custody system.

Screening is a preliminary check for drugs of abuse. While it is a cost-effective method to rule out drug usage for most samples, a positive screen must be verified to be legally credible. Samples that are presumptively positive in Screening require an additional confirmation step.

If the sample is presumptively positive during the Screening phase, additional hair is used from the original sample to prepare for Extraction. In Extraction, drugs are extracted from hair at much lower concentrations than other methods (such as urine or oral fluid), making hair drug screening a particularly challenging method to conduct.

Any positive screening result is confirmed using GC/MS, GC/MS/MS, or LC/MS/MS. All presumptive positive samples are cleansed before confirmation as necessary. The entire lab process from Accessioning to Confirmation is evaluated under both the CAP (College of American Pathologists) Hair designation and the accreditation to ISO / IEC 17025 standards.

Advantages of hair drug testing:

• Extended detection period: Hair drug testing can identify drug use for up to 90 days, unlike urine testing, which offers a short detection window.
• Challenging to tamper with: Hair drug tests are hard to cheat, thus enhancing result accuracy.
• Historical usage insights: It provides a pattern of drug use over time, not just recent usage.

Limitations:

• Unable to detect recent use: Drug detectability in hair requires approximately 5-7 days.
• Higher cost: Generally, hair drug testing is more costly than other methods.
• Result variations: Factors like hair color and individual hair growth rates can influence drug metabolite concentrations in hair.

Note: Although often called "hair follicle tests", the analysis is conducted on the hair strand, not on the follicle under the scalp.

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing

Why Hair Follicle Testing Beats Urine Testing in Dawson, NE

When contrasted with traditional urine tests, hair follicle assessments offer superior detection capabilities. Hair testing covers a broader timeline, often detecting substances long after they have ceased to be present in urine. The reliability and extensive detection window make it a preferred choice, providing unmatched accuracy for employers and legal entities.

Extended Detection Window

Extended Detection Window in Dawson, NE

One of the remarkable benefits of hair follicle testing is its extended detection period—up to 90 days. This allows employers in Dawson, NE to gain a thorough understanding of an employee or candidate's drug history, offering insights far beyond the scope of other testing methods.

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method

Tamper-Resistant Testing Method in Dawson, NE

Hair follicle testing significantly decreases the likelihood of sample tampering. With this method, sample adulteration is minimized, ensuring the results are trustworthy and indisputable. This makes it an ideal choice where accuracy and integrity are paramount in Dawson, NE.

Convenient Nationwide Locations

Convenient Nationwide Testing Locations and Local Locations in Dawson, NE

With testing centers spread nationwide, including Dawson, NE, the accessibility of our services is unrivaled. This ensures a swift and straightforward testing process wherever you are, eliminating the hassle and simplifying the experience for all involved.

Simple, Confidential Process

Simple, Confidential Process in Dawson, NE

The process of ordering, conducting, and receiving hair follicle test results is designed to be simple and confidential. Individuals in Dawson, NE can rest assured their privacy is upheld at every step, reinforcing trust in the testing procedure.

Affordable, Fast Turnaround

Affordable Pricing and Fast Turnaround in Dawson, NE

We are committed to offering competitive pricing and rapid turnaround times for hair follicle testing in Dawson, NE. This provides exceptional value for companies of all sizes, ensuring peace of mind through cost-effective and efficient service delivery.

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results

Fast, Accurate, and Reliable Results in Dawson, NE

Hair follicle testing in Dawson, NE stands as a testament to precision and reliability. This method is renowned for its speed, while simultaneously delivering high accuracy rates. Whether it’s detecting recent substance use or chronic patterns, hair testing provides results swiftly and reliably, ensuring informed decision-making.

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers

Compliance and Peace of Mind for Employers in Dawson, NE

Utilizing hair follicle testing helps employers adhere to drug-free workplace policies with confidence. By ensuring compliance, it minimizes legal risks and promotes a safer work environment, thereby providing peace of mind for businesses in Dawson, NE.

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What's New In Hair Follicle Drug Testing according to the Hair Drug Testing Experts

With its multidisciplinary nature, hair testing brings together researchers, scientists, and experts from various domains to develop innovative techniques, explore new methodologies, and address emerging concerns, responding to the ever-evolving challenges of drug abuse, therapeutic drug monitoring, and environmental exposures to pollutants.

The joint meeting of the Society of Hair Testing (SoHT) and the Italian Group of Forensic Toxicologists (GTFI) was organized in Verona, June 8–10, 2022, and hosted by the Legal Medicine team of the Verona University Hospital, directed by Franco Tagliaro together with Federica Bortolotti and Rossella Gottardo.

It served as a prominent platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, facilitating groundbreaking advancements in hair testing and analysis. In this special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, we aim to showcase the remarkable manuscripts presented at this significant event, shedding light on the latest research and highlighting the future directions in this field.

Novel Analytical Techniques: The Verona meeting witnessed the unveiling of cutting-edge analytical techniques, offering enhanced sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy for drug testing. Remarkable advancements in sample preparation, detection, and identification of drug compounds have been presented. The manuscripts in this section presented novel approaches, such as multianalyte methods and on-line preparation which can enable rapid analysis and improve thorough forensic investigations.

Biomarkers and Pharmacokinetics: The identification and validation of reliable biomarkers and pharmacokinetic studies are fundamental aspects of drug testing and analysis. The impact of hair treatments on the oxidation/decomposition of drugs in hair was also explored, as the long-term fate of drugs incorporated in the keratin matrix. Furthermore, the SoHT meeting in Verona featured research on the identification and quantification of alcohol abuse biomarkers, their stability, and their correlation with exposure and other biomarkers.

Forensic Applications and Interpretation: One of the vital objectives of hair testing is its application in forensic investigations and legal proceedings. The SoHT meeting in Verona emphasized the significance of rigorous interpretation of analytical results and the need for standardized protocols. Manuscripts in this section present advancements in forensic toxicology, and have explored the challenges posed by emerging designer drugs and strategies to combat their proliferation. The pitfalls encountered when the exogenous/endogenous nature of a substance is questioned were presented and discussed. The special issue presents also manuscripts that delve into the ethical implications of drug testing in drug facilitated sexual assaults.

Clinical Applications of hair testing are witnessed by the insight on environmental tobacco smoke exposure, assessed by hair analysis in a population of students and the study of in utero-exposure to drugs of abuse through neonatal hair analysis. Exposure to drugs was also important in cases of child abuse/neglect, when the clinical purpose of hair testing merge with its forensic applications.

The legal framework surrounding hair testing and the achievement of guidelines to ensure fairness, accuracy, and confidentiality in drug testing practices have also been discussed,and the SoHT consensus on general hair testing and testing for drugs of abuse was presented at the meeting and published as a Letter to the Editor.

In conclusion, the special issue of Drug Testing and Analysis, featuring manuscripts from the SoHT–GTFI meeting in Verona 2022, reflects the remarkable advancements achieved in this field. The manuscripts provide valuable insights into novel analytical techniques, biomarkers, pharmacokinetics, forensic applications, and ethical considerations. As we embrace these advancements, we pave the way for a safer, healthier society, where drug testing and analysis serve as powerful tools in protecting public health and maintaining integrity in various sectors. The research presented in this special issue will undoubtedly shape the future of drug testing and analysis, fostering collaboration and inspiring further innovation in this crucial area of scientific inquiry.

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